Japan made a bold move by dispatching a battleship to the Taiwan Strait for the first time, signaling a message to China about freedom of navigation. This action coincided with China’s test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean.
The Japanese warship Sazanami completed the passage through the Taiwan Strait after a 10-hour journey, accompanied by naval ships from Australia and New Zealand. This move was in response to China’s aircraft carrier sailing near Taiwan with two destroyers.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reportedly ordered this passage to prevent China from being more assertive following its intrusion into Japanese territory. China’s increasing desire for dominance in the region has raised tensions over Taiwan, with Beijing claiming jurisdiction over the waters separating the island from China.
Despite China’s objections, many countries, including Germany, have conducted similar patrols in the Taiwan Strait to uphold freedom of navigation. The situation highlights the ongoing power struggle between China and other nations in the region.
mfi/rc (AFP, Reuters)
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